Big-hearted solicitors and will writers from across the West Midlands are supporting a local hospice’s ‘Make a Will’ month this autumn, by offering people a cheaper way to sort out their will.
From Monday 7 to Thursday 31 October, a number of generous firms will be waiving their usual will writing fees and instead asking people to make a charitable donation to Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice.
It is currently estimated that two thirds of UK adults don’t have a will in place, so the initiative is aiming to encourage more people to get this vital document sorted by reducing costs and allowing them to support the work of the Hospice.
Suggested donations are £100 for a single will, which typically cost £185, or £125 for a joint will, which normally costs £225. For wills requiring more specialist advice, the solicitors will agree a fee in advance.
All donations will go towards the Hospice, which supports local people to live well with life-limiting illness.
Katy O’Sullivan, senior individual giving and legacy manager at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “Writing a will is essential in making sure that your last wishes are respected and that the people you love will be provided for. So many people avoid sorting it out because they think they have ‘nothing valuable to leave’ but making a will isn’t just about leaving valuables, it’s about making a difficult and upsetting time that little bit easier for your loved ones.
“Taking part in Make a Will month is a really simple and inexpensive way for people to get this vital document sorted, whilst also allowing them to show their support for our charity. Thank you to all the generous firms who have signed up to support the initiative so far – it’s fantastic to see so many of you give up your time for free to help raise much-needed funds for the Hospice.”
It currently costs £9 million to run Birmingham St Mary’s vital services every year, over 60 per cent of which must come from generous voluntary donations. A key source of voluntary funding is through gifts in wills – in fact, one in seven families are able to receive support from Birmingham St Mary’s today, thanks to people leaving gifts to the Hospice in their wills.
Katy added: “If you’re taking part in Make a Will month then there is absolutely no obligation to leave a gift in your will to the Hospice. However, gifts in wills – no matter how big or small they may be – will help us to continue to provide expert care to local people whenever and wherever they need it.”
This year, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is celebrating 40 years of care across Birmingham and Sandwell. When the Hospice first opened in 1979, it could care for 25 people on any given day. Four decades later and the Hospice is supporting over 400 people every day, providing care in people’s homes, in the community, at its Day Hospice facility and at the Hospice’s Inpatient Unit.
To take part in Birmingham St Mary’s ‘Make a Will Month’, visit our webpage or call 0121 752 8779.
